This research challenges traditional assumptions about illegal lending. These borrowers are not finding lenders through neighbourhood networks or personal relationships. They are turning to online platforms, creating a market that is geographically dispersed, largely invisible to existing enforcement structures, and growing year-on-year.

The report explores:

• The growth of online illegal lending demand between 2023 and 2026

• Who is borrowing, what they need money for, and how much they are requesting

• The true cost of borrowing in digital lending communities

• Why existing enforcement and reporting models struggle to address online markets

• What policymakers, regulators, platforms, community finance providers, and consumer protection organisations should do next

At a time when regulated high-cost credit has contracted and financial pressures continue to rise, this whitepaper offers a rare glimpse into a hidden market operating in plain sight.

Download the report to understand how illegal lending is evolving, why demand is increasing, and what this means for the future of financial inclusion, consumer protection, and financial crime prevention in the UK.